I watched a lovely piece by 60 Minutes reporter Lesley Stahl on CBS Sunday Morning about grandparents stepping into active child-rearing roles, due to the high-cost of daycare in our country. Stahl referred to this situation as the "Granny Nanny" phenomena.

Stahl has a new book out called Becoming Grandma, The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting. Stahl has been a reporter for over 40 years and says that despite all of the major stories and personalities she has covered, the event that transformed her life more than any other, was becoming a grandmother.

She interviews scientists, doctors, her friends and some everyday-women-next-door types to try and find out why and how becoming a grandparent is so life-changing. In her CBS Sunday Morning piece she introduces us to a number of these "so-called" Granny Nannies and "Mannies" and they are all, without exception, thrilled to be a huge part of their grandchildren's lives.

The children interviewed, ranged in age from toddlers to teens and their experiences with being raised (part-time) by their grandparents were all unfailingly positive. The grandparents for their part are thrilled to help out and take a more active role in the lives of these children, whom they love, unconditionally, beyond all reason.

Some grandparents see this as an opportunity to do all the things with their grandchildren, that they didn't have the time to do with their children; a second chance to get the parenting thing right, as it were. And it works like crazy for everybody involved.

Unfortunately for me, my Granny Nanny experiences will be relegated to family dinners, get-togethers and special occasions with my "other families" because I have no biological children or grandchildren of my own. Therefore, I plan to relish every moment with this new batch of wee ones, before they too grow up and spend time trying to remember what was so special about me, once upon a time.

 

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